Heat exchanger support

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a heat exchanger and an associated method of manufacture. The heat exchanger comprises a flow conduit for accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid. The conduit is wound around a central axis so as to form a plurality of turns, for example in a helical fashion. A support member for the conduit is formed of a sheet material shaped to extend in a circumferential direction about the central axis, wherein the support member is common to said plurality of turns. A plurality of fasteners are arranged to attach the conduit to the support member at spaced locations along its length.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger comprising:
 one or more flow conduits for accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid, the one or more conduits being wound around a central axis so as to form a plurality of turns,
 a support member, the support member being formed of a sheet material shaped to extend in a circumferential direction about the central axis, wherein the support member is common to said plurality of turns; and 
 a plurality of fasteners made of shape memory alloy and arranged so as to attach the one or more conduits to the support member at spaced locations, wherein each shape memory fastener is configured to adopt a first form at a first temperature and a second form at a second temperature. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member is generally tubular in form. 
     
     
       3. A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of engagement formations for engagement with the fasteners and/or conduits at a plurality of locations along the length of the conduit. 
     
     
       4. A heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the engagement formations are integral with the support member. 
     
     
       5. A heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the engagement formations each comprise an aperture and/or raised surface portion of the support member. 
     
     
       6. A heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein each engagement formation is arranged to maintain the conduit spaced from the surface area of the support member. 
     
     
       7. A heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein a conduit contacting portion of each engagement formation is disposed between adjacent fastener engaging portions of the engagement formation. 
     
     
       8. A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each fastener is arched in form. 
     
     
       9. A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each fastener has a non-return formation to prevent disengagement or loosening of the fastener once engaged with the support member. 
     
     
       10. A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each fastener is deformable in situ to increase a restraining force between the conduit and support member. 
     
     
       11. A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of flow openings to allow heat transfer between opposing sides of the support member in use. 
     
     
       12. A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more conduits comprise a conduit bundle having a plurality of conduit rows therein, wherein each conduit row follows a substantially helical path around the central axis. 
     
     
       13. A heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of support members, wherein a support member is provided radially internally or externally of each row relative to the central axis. 
     
     
       14. A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member defines a body of revolution about the central axis and has a length dimension in the direction of said central axis. 
     
     
       15. A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger comprising:
 shaping one or more fluid conduit to extend in a helical direction around a central axis for a plurality of turns;
 forming a support member from a sheet material shaped to extend in a circumferential direction; 
 arranging the support member adjacent the fluid conduit about the central axis such that the support member extends in the direction of the central axis for said plurality of turns of the fluid conduit; and 
 fastening the one or more conduit to the support member at spaced locations along the length of said one or more conduit with the use of fasteners, wherein each of the fasteners comprises shape memory material that adopts a first form at a first temperature and a second form at a second temperature. 
 
 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 15  further comprising forming the support member of a generally rectangular sheet material and shaping the support member to form a curved profile about the central axis. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 15  further comprising fastening the one or more conduit to the support member using fasteners during assembly of the heat exchanger, wherein the fasteners are tightenable in use. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 15  further comprise arranging and/or fastening a first support member against a first conduit row and subsequently arranging and/or fastening a second support member against a second conduit row.